Need a Inexpensive messenger bag
#1
Human most of the time
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Posts: 167
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Need a Inexpensive messenger bag
Any suggestions or recommendations? Need one big enough for a laptop and a change of clothes. I have a Samsonite backpack but it's overkill.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Northwestern Suburban Chicago
Posts: 50
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#3
It's Queen to you!
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Bloomington, IN
Posts: 96
Bikes: Roadmaster
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#4
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
If you plan on carrying lots of stuff then spend extra money and buy something good. Cheap messenger bags are uncomfortable and they not waterproof. When it comes to bags, you get what you pay for.
#5
vespertine member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Land of Angora, Turkey
Posts: 2,476
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 687 Post(s)
Liked 220 Times
in
163 Posts
If price is seriously a concern, I'd try ebay. You might have to clean up the bag a bit, but a decent messenger bag should be bombproof enough that it will continue to perform its function for quite some time.
It's not the perfect bag, but I like my large Timbuk 2 messenger bag, and it's stood up to almost daily use for 5 1/2 years without any problems. There's quite a few of these out there on the used market - a medium should meet your needs just fine.
#6
contiuniously variable
Craigslist and freecycle are also options?
- Andy
- Andy
#7
DancesWithSUVs
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Griffin Cycle Bethesda,MD
Posts: 6,983
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
+1 for eBay,plenty of reasonably priced bags there. Might also check your local CL.
__________________
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 437
Bikes: 80's Treks, cargo bike, Lugged LeMond, Eddy Merckx 7-11, Ciocc resto-mod, All City MM disc, and some more
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
+2 for eBay... you can get a nice Timbuk2 for a very reasonable price. They last too. I have had one of mine since 1998.
#9
Member
What do you consider inexpensive? Banjo Brothers makes a couple messenger bags $65 and $80 . They also have a range of commuter backpacks.
I'll vouch for their quality and warranty. It has a tough build and contents stay dry during a pouring rain. About three years bac, I had my U-lock in my left side large commuter backpack pocket when the lock snagged a passenger side rear view mirror as I passed a pickup truck. It tore the pocket at the seams and opened a 1 in gap in the main compartment. I sent the pack to Banjo Brothers expecting to pay for the repair. Banjo Brothers opted to exchange it for free.
I own a large commuter backpack and a large messenger backpack and have owned a medium and large Timbuk2. Bag build quality is on par, and while Timbuk2 does have better style, the price difference is significantly higher.
I'll vouch for their quality and warranty. It has a tough build and contents stay dry during a pouring rain. About three years bac, I had my U-lock in my left side large commuter backpack pocket when the lock snagged a passenger side rear view mirror as I passed a pickup truck. It tore the pocket at the seams and opened a 1 in gap in the main compartment. I sent the pack to Banjo Brothers expecting to pay for the repair. Banjo Brothers opted to exchange it for free.
I own a large commuter backpack and a large messenger backpack and have owned a medium and large Timbuk2. Bag build quality is on par, and while Timbuk2 does have better style, the price difference is significantly higher.
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
[QUOTE=poormanbiking;16685673]Any suggestions or recommendations? Need one big enough for a laptop and a change of clothes. I have a Samsonite backpack but it's overkill.[/QUO
IMHO the best thing you can do for yourself would be to save up a little bit and get a quality bag. I am a firm believer in cry once (trust me I am just about as poor if maybe not more so than you). Best thing I did was save up and buy a Chrome Messenger bag- waterproof, durable and lifetime guarantee. I have owned this bag for 5 years now- no problems and fits comfortable. A good base model is about $120, if your finances simply do not permit you to do that, then take the advice given above. But if you can save up a bit and hold off the "gotta have it now" jitters- you won't be disappointed
IMHO the best thing you can do for yourself would be to save up a little bit and get a quality bag. I am a firm believer in cry once (trust me I am just about as poor if maybe not more so than you). Best thing I did was save up and buy a Chrome Messenger bag- waterproof, durable and lifetime guarantee. I have owned this bag for 5 years now- no problems and fits comfortable. A good base model is about $120, if your finances simply do not permit you to do that, then take the advice given above. But if you can save up a bit and hold off the "gotta have it now" jitters- you won't be disappointed
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: On the bridge with Picard
Posts: 5,932
Bikes: Specialized Allez, Specialized Sirrus
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
We had to delete a couple of posts. Just a reminder if you have items to sell, you need to start a thread in the Marketplace forums. Sales are not allowed in the regular forums. Thanks for your cooperation.
#12
Junior Member
If you have a local Goodwill store, check there often, I have purchased an REI messenger bag $5, REI pannier $5, Timbuk2 messenger bag $5, Jandd laptop and Jandd garment panniers for $5 each, and a set of small nashbar panniers for $5, you just need to keep looking.
#13
Full Member
What do you consider inexpensive? Banjo Brothers makes a couple messenger bags $65 and $80 . They also have a range of commuter backpacks.
I'll vouch for their quality and warranty. It has a tough build and contents stay dry during a pouring rain. About three years bac, I had my U-lock in my left side large commuter backpack pocket when the lock snagged a passenger side rear view mirror as I passed a pickup truck. It tore the pocket at the seams and opened a 1 in gap in the main compartment. I sent the pack to Banjo Brothers expecting to pay for the repair. Banjo Brothers opted to exchange it for free.
I own a large commuter backpack and a large messenger backpack and have owned a medium and large Timbuk2. Bag build quality is on par, and while Timbuk2 does have better style, the price difference is significantly higher.
I'll vouch for their quality and warranty. It has a tough build and contents stay dry during a pouring rain. About three years bac, I had my U-lock in my left side large commuter backpack pocket when the lock snagged a passenger side rear view mirror as I passed a pickup truck. It tore the pocket at the seams and opened a 1 in gap in the main compartment. I sent the pack to Banjo Brothers expecting to pay for the repair. Banjo Brothers opted to exchange it for free.
I own a large commuter backpack and a large messenger backpack and have owned a medium and large Timbuk2. Bag build quality is on par, and while Timbuk2 does have better style, the price difference is significantly higher.
#14
Member
the banjo brothers backpack looks perfect for my upcoming commuter needs. what size would you recommend to carry a change of clothes, shoes and a towel and wash cloth? also, is there a chest strap or belt to help stabilize the load? the pic on their website doesn't really show one way or the other.
The downside of so much room is that you can actually carry too much! I know I can get by with a medium pack, but I prefer the extra space. The large pack is useful as carry on luggage when I fly. One time, a TSA Nazi made me put the pack in the carry on luggage sizer. It would not fit and she would not let me into the security line until I took stuff out to make it fit the sizer.
I can post pics of the pack's capacity for bike commuting if you're curious. You might also want to check this review out for another perspective.
https://urbanvelo.org/banjo-brothers...uter-backpack/
As for straps, the shoulders are wide and distributes weigh evenly. It has a sternum strap and waist belt. Even with 50 lbs on my back, so long as weight is distributed evenly, the pack is very stable and a comfortable fit.
#15
Senior Member
I like my Knog bag, but I think they dropped them from their products. It converts to a pannier with an attachment. I've been using it for a few years now and haven't found any reason to go to something else. It has a padded section for a 15" laptop and enough room for some clothes.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mkansari
Bicycle Mechanics
15
10-03-12 10:58 AM